Dial for knitting machines



Feb. 17, 1959 w. LARKIN um. FOR KNITTING mxcumzs Filed Jan. 31, 1958 2 shgets-sheet 1 Feb. 17,1959 w. LARKIN 2,873,594

DIAL FOR KNITTING MACHINES FIG. 5.;

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M000 0 n u u a u 11 n M M M @wmW om. ron KNITTING MACHINES Walter Lar kln, 'Norrlstown, Pa., assignor to Fidelity Machine Company, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationJanuary 31, 1958, Serial No. 712,376

" 3Claims. (Cl. 66-45) This invention relates to certain improvements in the dials of circular hosiery knitting machines of the type adapted for automatic formation of a turned welt.

In United States Patents Nos. 2,785,552 and 2,784,579, I disclosed dial structure designed to improve the function. of the machine by increasing the effective clear ance in the throat area between the edge of thedial and the top of the needle cylinder while maintaining, or even reducing, the effective distance between the transfer bits in the dial and the said cylinder; by materially reducing the prior tendency for the yarn to snag in the dial and also the tendency in the machines of this character for the knitted fabric of the welt to hang up on the dial in the transfer operation.

The present invention provides a dial structure affording improved functioning in all of the respects set forth above, and which provides also for more effective guiding of the transfer bits in' the. dial in their movements to and from the operative position with respect to the cylinder needles.

In the attached drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the dial and the upper part of the needle cylinder of a machine made in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in perspective of one of the elements of the dial structure separated from the assembly;

b Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of one of the transfer its;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the peripheral edge of the dial;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower dial plate showing the transfer bits in extended or operative positions with respect to the dial needles, and

Fig. 6 is a corresponding plan view showing the transfer bits in retracted positions.

With reference to the drawings, a machine of the character to which the applicants invention relates comprises the usual needle cylinder 1, and a dial 2 which rotates in synchronism with the cylinder 1 and which carries the transfer bits 3, see Fig. 3, which cooperate with the cylinder needles 4 in conventional manner in the welt-forming-and-turning function. The machine comprises also the usual sinker ring 5 embracing the,

upper end of the cylinder 1 and in which the sinkers 6 operate, also in conventional manner.

The dial 2 comprises an upper relativelyfixed portion 7, and a lower relatively moveable element 8 which is attached to the lower end of the dial shaft 9. The element 8 is a disc having a relatively thick central portion and anintegral peripheral flange 11. Attached to the underside of the flange 11 is an annular plate 12. As shown in Fig. 2, this plate terminates at its lower edge in an upturned rim 13 the lower side of which is bevelled as indicated at 14, and on the upper surface of the rim 13 is a circumferential series of upwardly projecting triangular ribs 15. As shown in Fig. 4, the upper surface of the rim 13 lies in the same plane as the upper surface of the flange 2,873,594 Patented Feb. 17, 1959 ice of the individual rib being at a maximum at the outer peripheral edge of the plate 12 and the height decreasing inwardly of the plate to zero at the inner edge of the rim. Also, as shown in Fig. 4, the inner edge 16 of the rim lies radially remote from the outer peripheral edge 17 of the flange 11 leaving an intervening space having a function hereinafter described. In the present instance the plate12 is provided in its uppersurface with 3 circumferential grooves 18 which are adapted to hold a suitable cementing medium 'by which the plate may be attached to the underside of the flangell.

On its upper face the element 8 has a circumferential series of radial ribs 19 the inter-spaces of which constitute guide ways for the transfer elements 3. The ribs 19 terminate short of the center of the dial and of the element 8 and their upper edge portions are extended outwardly beyond the peripheral edge of the lower dial element to a point short of the outer peripheral edge of the upper dial member 7. In Fig. 4 these outwardly extended portions of the ribs 19 are identified by the reference numeral 21. As shown in this figure the extremities of these extensions are provided with upward projections 22 which in assembly occupy a circumferential recess 23 in the upper dial member 7. This rib formation on the lower dial element 8 corresponds substantially with that disclosed in my aforesaid United States Patent 2,784,579. As set forth above the transfer bits 3 occupy and are guided in the spaces between the ribs 19 of the lower dial element 8. The individual transfer bit is of the form well illustrated in Fig. 3 and is constructed generally in accordance with the principle disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,730,880.

The rear end of the bit, indicated by the reference numeral 24, is solid and contains the projection 25 which in assembly fits into and constitutes a follower in the cam groove 3i) in the underside of the relatively fixed upper dial member 7. The forward part of the transfer bit is in effect laminated, being formed by turning over the metal of the blank upon itself to form two faces 26 and 27 which are joined along the upper edge 28. The forward edges of the face portions 26 and 27 are formed to provide an open eye 29 which is divided at the front to i provide a slot 31 through which the cylinder needles may pass. The face 26 is extended beyond the slot 31 to form an upwardly curved tongue 32 which forms a yarn retaining hook and which has a guiding function hereinafter described, and the opposite face 27 is also extended at 33. At the back of the eye 29 the faces 26 and 27 are spaced apart to provide an intervening channel 34 open at the bottom edge of the hit.

As shown in Fig. 5 the ribs of the element 12 are in each case located in a position aligned with one of the guide slots 35 between adjoining ribs 19. In assembly therefore these ribs 15 are also centrally aligned with the transfer bits occupying the particular aligned slots 35. The peripheral edge of the dial element 8 is placed so that when the transfer bits are in the extreme retracted position the eyes 29 will lie directly over the circle defined by the ribs 15. Each of the ribs will therefore lie within the eye of one of the transfer bits when the latter is re- .no interference to the movement of the bit.

ribs 15 will lodge in the recess 20 from which it may be periodically removed by normal cleaning process.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 4 that the outer end of the tongue 32 extends upwardly to apoint wherein they tip end-thereof lies-between the adjoining projections 21 of the ribs 19. The tongues thereby function as an added guide means for the forward ends of the bits precluding lateral displacement during the initial and terminal parts of their advance and retractive movements respectively in the dial. These tongues 32 also function when the bits are in the retracted position to deflect the fabric and yarn downwardly to and under the bevelled edge 14 of the lower dial element 8 and with the latter form a continuous deflector tending to direct the yarn and fabric away from the joint between the bits and the outer edge of the dial element.

Iclaim: g,

1', For knitting machines of the type comprising cyl inder and dial elements and cooperative knitting instrumentalities in said cylinder and dial, a dial structure in cluding upper and lower members relatively movable about a central axis normal to the respective upper and lower confronting faces of themembers, the said lower. member containingin the upper face thereof radial slots for reception of-said dial instrumentalities, said dial instrumentalities having longitudinal channels in the under edges thereof, guard elements at the outer peripheral edge of said lower dial member projecting upwardly into'said slots in alignment with the longitudinal recesses of said instrumentalities, and a circumferential recessin the upper face of said lower dial member at the inner ends of said guard elements.

2. For knitting machines of the type described, a dial for transfer bits comprising relatively movable contiguous upper andlower members, the said lower member having a body portion of materially lesser radial extent than the upper member and containing in the upper face thereof radial slots for reception of said bits, the upper portions only of the walls of said slots being extended beyond the peripheral edge of the said body-portion to afford correspondingly extended lateral bit-supporting surfaces, bits in said slots comprising upwardly turned tongues at the outer said body member in the peripheralarea thereof andex tending beyond the peripheral edge of the body member, a rim at the outer edgeof said annular member having its upper face in the plane of the upper face of said body member, and a circumferential series of spaced ribs PIG;

jecting upwardly from said uppersurface of the rim in alignment with the said radial slots;

References Cited in the file of'this' patent I I v UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,730,880 i Larkin Jan. 17, 19 56 I g FOREIGN PATENTS I i 586,337 Great Britain Mar. 14, 1947; 

